Suspension system for safety hat

ABSTRACT

A SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A SAFETY HAT HAVING A HEAD BAND THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE HAT AT FOUR POINTS ONLY, BUT HAS PROVISIONS FOR CONNECTING AT SIX POINTS IN THE HAT THE STRIPS THAT TRAVERSE THE CROWN OF THE HEAD OF THE WEARER OF THE HAT AND SPACE THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S HEAD FROM THE HAT. THE PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ARE PROVIDED IN UNITARY ASSEMBLY SO THAT ALL PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WILL REMAIN TOGETHER, EVEN WHEN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS NOT INSTALLED IN A HAT SHELL.

Jan. 19, 1971 RASCKE 3,555,560

SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR SAFETY HAT Filed Jan. 16, 1969 HE R55 R T A.RASCHK E INVENTOR.

/oumsend o Eumsend United States Patent,

3,555,560 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR SAFETY HAT Herbert A. Raschke,Greenbrae, Calif., assignor to E. D.

- Bullard Company, Sausalito, Calif.

Filed Jan. 16, 1969, Ser. No. 791,671 Int. Cl. A42b 1/10; A63b 71/10U.S. C]. 2-3 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto a head engaging suspension system for retaining a safety helmet inplace on the wearers head.

A safety hat suspension system performs two main (functions: it retainsthe safety hat in place on the head of the wearer as the wearer movesabout, and it establishes and maintains a clearance space between thehead of the wearer and the shell of the hat, which space is necessaryfor protecting the wearers head against falling objects that impinge onthe hat. The first function is performed by a head 'band that encirclesthe head of the wearer and is joined to the hat; the second function isperformed by crown straps that extend from a region adjacent the rim ofthe hat to a point over the crown of the wearers head and back to thehat rim at a point diametrically opposite the first mentioned region.

The present invention provides a suspension system wherein the head bandis attached to the hat at four points, all of which are closer to thefront and rear of the head than to the side of the head, and wherein thecrown straps are three in number and are attached to the hat shell atsix uniformly spaced apart points. Thus, the advantages of a four-pointsuspension system, i.e., improved comfort to the wearer, and theadvantages of a six-point suspension system, i.e., greater protectionagainst falling objects, are both achieved in the same suspension systemand are optimized in the same system. In a suspension system accordingto the present invention, there are six connector sockets formed in theinterior of a rigid hat shell. Such connector sockets are uniformlyspaced around the periphery of the shell in diametrically opposed pairs.Spanning each pair of sockets is a crown strap that overlies the top ofthe wearers head to space the interior surface of the hat shell from thecrown of the wearers head. Such structure is conventional, as isexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,329, which is incorporated hereintoby this reference. The cited patent also discloses a typical techniquefor securing the head band into the shell, namely by securing the headband to each of the six connectors that are received in the shellrockets. Such mode of securing the head band in the shell does notoptimize comfort to the wearer because of the presence at the sides ofmany heads of a fiat region which does not correspond to the shape ofthe shell. The presence of head band connectors that connect the headband to the shell at the sides of the head tends either to pull the headband away from the side portion of the head or to cause the head band topartially roll. Either of these consequences results in im- 3,555,560Patented Jan. 19, 1971 position of non-uniform pressure by the head bandon the head, which causes discomfort. The present invention totallyeliminates the connection between the head band and the helmet shell atthe sides of the head, but retains the transverse crown strap.Elimination of the connection at the side of the head permits the headband to conform to flat regions at the side of the head so that pressureimposed by the head band on the head is uniform throughout the peripheryof the head. The connector elements that secure the transverse crownstrap in the sockets in the helmet shell are loosely attached to thehead band so that when the suspension is removed from the shell, thesuspension will remain in unitary assembly.

Contributing to the comfort afforded by the hat suspension of thepresent invention is an improved joint between two portions of theheadband at a point of adjustability of the headband. As isconventional, the portion of the headband at one side of the joint isformed with a plurality of holes spaced at different points along theperiphery of the headband, and the portion of the headband on theopposite side of the joint has a pin or peg adapted to engage one of theholes to maintain a suitable adjustment of band size at the joint. Theimproved joint includes on the side at which the peg is disposed one ormore loops or keepers through which the portion of the band defining therow of holes is fitted. The loop or keeper is mounted on the side of theheadband opposite from the side that contacts the wearers head so at toavoid excessive pressure on the wearers head. The keeper is suificientlyclose to the peg to maintain the peg in a selected hole, thereby tomaintain a desired position of adjustment of the headband. The spacebetween the keeper and the peg is sufficient, however, to permitdisengagement of the band from the peg when adjustment is desired.

The foregoing, together with other objects, features and advantages ofthe invention, will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a head suspension system according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a connector element for connecting thesuspension into a rigid hat shell;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector element of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the headband at the lateral regionthereof showing an expedient for retaining the transversely extendingcrown strap to the suspension system.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 12indicates a crown strap that extends transversely over the wearers head,and reference numerals l4 and 16 indicate crown straps that extend overthe top of the wearers head along lines that are symmetrical of thelongitudinal center line of the wearers head. The ends of crown straps12, 14 and 16 are uniformly spaced around the interior of a rigid hatshell S in which the suspension is mounted. For so connecting the endsof the crown straps, connector elements 18 are connected to respectiveends of each of the crown straps. Hat shell S is provided with aconnector socket 19 associated with each connector element 18. Socket 19is equivalent to the element identified by reference numeral 3 in theabove cited Pat. No. 3,040,329.

Each connector element 18 defines a slot 20 through which is inserted aportion of the crown strap, such portion being folded back and stitchedas at 22 to form a loop to retain the connector on the crown strap. Theconnector includes integral therewith a dovetail shaped block 24 thatengages complementary connector sockets formed in the interior of theshell. Thus, when the connecting elements are engaged in the connectorsockets 19 in the shell, contact between the top of the wearers head andthe interior of the shell is prevented by the passage of crown straps12, 14 and 16 over the crown of the head of the wearer.

A head encircling band 26 is provided for snugly engaging the head ofthe wearer. The headband 26 serves to retain the shell onto the head ofthe wearer because the headband is secured to some of the connectorelements 18 which are in turn engaged with the connector sockets of thehat. For engaging the headband 26 to the connector elements, theheadband has integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom tworear mounting tabs 28 and two front mounting tabs 29. Each rear tab 28has one or more horizontally extending slots 30 therein, one of whichslots is engaged in alignment with a slot 29 in connector element 18 bymeans of a locking button 32. The locking button extends through slot 30in tab 28 and through slot in connector element 18. As can be seen mostclearly in FIG. 7, button 32 includes in unitary assembly a base flange34, a rectangular shear member 36, and a bulbous enlargement 38 thatretains the button in place in engagement with the slots. Front tabs 29each have a button 32' integral therewith and extending therefrom thatis shaped generally as is button 32 and performs a function similar tothat performed by button 32. In fabricating a device according to thepresent invention, connector element 18 and tabs 28 and 29 on headband26 are formed of material having suflicient resilience that button 32can be inserted into and removed from slots and 20. The connectionbetween headband 26 and connector elements 18 by means of buttons 32 and32' is sufiiciently strong since the only force that such connectionresists is that arising from vibration or the like as the wearer of thehat moves about; the crown straps 12, 14 and 16 resist force arisingfrom an impact of a falling object upon the hat shell.

Buttons 32 are held captive with respect to headband 26 by a so-calledpigtail 40. On fabricating a suspension system according to the presentinvention, headband 2'6, pigtail 40 and button 32 are moldedsimultaneously with thermo plastic material so as to achieve economy ofmanufacture and continuity of structure.

As can be seen most clearly of from FIG. 1, headband 26 has only fourmounting tabs 28, 29, such tabs being associated with the ends of crownstraps 14 and 16. Headband 26 lacks the equivalent of mounting tabs 28at the lateral portions thereof, that is, the portions that contact therelatively flat region along the side of the head of the wearer of thehat. Pigtail 40, associated with the lateral section indicated at inFIG. 1, is of sufficient length and flexibility to permit the sideportion of the headband 26 to move into conformity with the wearershead. The four connections between headband 26 and tabs 28, 29 areadequate to secure the rigid hat shell to the headband 26. Pigtails 40serve to retain crown strap 12 and its associated connector elements 18with the remainder of the suspension system when the suspension systemis not in place in a rigid hat shell.

The vertical dimension of headband 26 at the lateral region thereof isrelatively thin to enhance flexibility of that region. Flexibility isdesirable because of the existence of plural horizontal slots 30 andrear tabs 28. The plural slots afford a vertical adjustment of the rearportion of the headbound, and the flexibility in the lateral portions ofthe headband permit the headband to retain conformity to the headirrespective of the vertical location of tabs 28 with respect to theconnector elements 18 to which they are connected.

Headband 26 is formed from two sections, a rear section 26R and a fromsection 26F. The position of the two sections is adjustable toaccommodate different head sizes. Rear section 26R terminates in aforwardly extending tab 42 and front section 26F has a pair of loops orkeepers 44 for slidably receiving tab 42. Integral with and projectingfrom the outer surface of front section 26F is a peg 46 that is formedto engage in one of a series of holes 48 formed in tab 42 of section26R. Because keepers 44 are on the outer surface of section 26F andbecause tab 42 extends through such keepers, the surface confronting thehead of the wearer is smooth and, for that reason, comfortable.

An absorbent brow pad 50 is secured on the section 26F and in accordancewith the teachings of US. Pat. No. 2,981,955 is turned up at the bottomedge and secured as at 52 to the outer surface of the forward section ofthe headband. This contributes to the substantially uninterruptedsmoothness of the head contacting surface of headband 26.

It is believed that the operation of the present inven tion and theadvantages inherent therein are obvious from the foregoing detaileddescription. However, it should be noted that existing hat shells thathave six sockets can receive the headband made according to the presentinvention without modification of the shell and without impairment ofthe safety afforded to the wearer. There is no impairment of safetybecause six points of connection of the crown straps are not affected.Additionally, as is pointed out above, the suspension system of thepresent invention affords improved comfort over the system in whichheadband 26 includes a pair of tabs at the sides of the headband.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention provides a headsuspension system that simultaneously achieves the dual desiderata ofaffording comfort by permitting the side portions of the headband tomove into conforznity with the wearers head and maintaining safety byproviding three crown straps, the ends of which connect to six points inthe rigid hat shell.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described,it will be obvious that other adaptations and modifications can be madewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety hat of the type including a rigid shell having first,second, and third pairs of connector sockets mounted interiorly thereof,individual sockets of the pairs being disposed diametrically oppositeone another, the sockets of said first pair being disposed at therespective lateral extremities of the shell and the individual socketsof said second and third pairs being disposed symmetrically of thelongitudinal center line of the shell; the improvement comprising first,second, and third crown straps having connector elements engageable insaid sockets attached to opposite ends thereof to connect the straps insaid hat so as to overlie the headof the wearer and space the shell fromthe crown of the head; a headband for encircling the wearers head toretain the hat on the wearers head; and means for fastening saidheadband to the connectors that are associated with said second andthird sockets only, the portion of said headband adjacent said firstpair of sockets being free to move relative thereto to permit movementof said headband into conformity with the lateral portions of thewearers head.

2. The invention of claim 1 including means for holding captive theconnector elements of said first crown strap to said head band at thelateral regions of said head band, said captive holding means beingflexible so as to fix an insignificant force on said head band.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said head band has means foreffecting adjustment thereof to accommodate different sized heads, saidadjusting means including a forward section and a rear sectionconstituting said head band, said sections having portions that overlap,

the overlapping portion of one of said sections having a keeper defininga slot on the exterior face of the section, said slot being sized toreceive therein the other overlapping portion of said other overlappingportion having a series of holes therein; and said first overlappingportion having a peg projecting outwardly therefrom on the exteriorsurface therefor engaging with one of the holes to establish animmovable connection between said segments.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the lateral regions of said headband are narrower than the remaining portion thereof to establishflexibility at such narrow portions so as to permit vertical movement ofsaid rear section with respect to said front: section withoutsignificantly distorting the head band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,371,712 3/1945 Scholletal. 2-33,183,522 5/1965 Groot 2- 5 3,221,340 12/1965 Joffe 2 3 3,241,154 3/1966A1150 2-3 10 3,383,705 5/1968 Raschke 2 3 JORDAN FRANKLIN, PrimaryExaminer G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner

